Food Scene
Excellent place to go for lunch! Gourmet soups and sandwiches, salad bar, etc. They are a natural foods grocery store and deli. Stock your pantry with local produce, meats, craft beer and wine, etc.
Lost River Market & Deli
26 Library StExcellent place to go for lunch! Gourmet soups and sandwiches, salad bar, etc. They are a natural foods grocery store and deli. Stock your pantry with local produce, meats, craft beer and wine, etc.
It doesn't look like much from the outside, but they have a spacious deck overlooking Lick Creek and excellent BBQ. Great local experience!
Porkys BBQ of Paoli
711 W Main StIt doesn't look like much from the outside, but they have a spacious deck overlooking Lick Creek and excellent BBQ. Great local experience!
German Café
452 S Maple StQuality local restaurant.
The Super Burger
600 W Main StLocal grassfed beef hamburgers! Hand dipped ice cream.
Speakeasy Pizza
120 West Jefferson StreetActual woodfired pizza. Amazing pizza and reasonable prices.
Shopping
Gingerich's: This is a tiny dry goods store on an Amish farm. It's a good place to get non-electric necessities such as lanterns, as well as various household basics. They sometimes have produce for sale as well. Please don't visit on Sundays!
5256 County Rd 100 N
5256 County Road 100 NorthGingerich's: This is a tiny dry goods store on an Amish farm. It's a good place to get non-electric necessities such as lanterns, as well as various household basics. They sometimes have produce for sale as well. Please don't visit on Sundays!
Amish Grocery: Small bulk foods store on an Amish farm. There is no sign for the grocery, but there is a sign for their tarp shop. Please don't visit on Sundays!
315 E Co Rd 500 N
315 East Co Road 500 NorthAmish Grocery: Small bulk foods store on an Amish farm. There is no sign for the grocery, but there is a sign for their tarp shop. Please don't visit on Sundays!
Finders Keepers Market Place
8355 IN-56One of my favorite antique malls in the area.
"Home Accents and Antiques" Another one that's not on the map! It's a nice-sized antique store about 25 minutes north of us. There's a used furniture and antique store just South of this place and a flea-markety sort of antique store just north of it by the used car lot.
9700 US-50
9700 Indiana's Historic Pathways - North Spur"Home Accents and Antiques" Another one that's not on the map! It's a nice-sized antique store about 25 minutes north of us. There's a used furniture and antique store just South of this place and a flea-markety sort of antique store just north of it by the used car lot.
Bontrager's Bake Sale: An Amish Farm selling produce, jams, maple syrup, homemade cookies, candies and baked goods. They have a "bake sale" every Friday and Saturday (follow signs that say "Bake Sale"), and they have produce and other farm products for sale every day of the week except Sunday. They boil the maple syrup right there on the farm, and you may be able to watch if you catch them at it from late January thru early March. Please don't visit on Sundays!
5662 County Rd 100 N
5662 County Road 100 NorthBontrager's Bake Sale: An Amish Farm selling produce, jams, maple syrup, homemade cookies, candies and baked goods. They have a "bake sale" every Friday and Saturday (follow signs that say "Bake Sale"), and they have produce and other farm products for sale every day of the week except Sunday. They boil the maple syrup right there on the farm, and you may be able to watch if you catch them at it from late January thru early March. Please don't visit on Sundays!
Sightseeing
This hotel is open for sightseeing and tours. It was the largest freestanding dome when it was built near the end of the 1800's. Fun place to visit for history buffs. They also have little shops and a spa, high end dining - that sort of thing. There is a free trolley that runs between the dome and the French Lick Springs Hotel and Casino: "For iconic transportation between the hotels, take a ride on the 1930 rail trolley. Ride the rails a distance of just over one mile on 'the shortest trolley line in the world.' ...The rail trolley operates from 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year." This is a must do for preschool age kids who like Daniel Tiger lol.
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West Baden Springs Hotel
8538 W Baden AveThis hotel is open for sightseeing and tours. It was the largest freestanding dome when it was built near the end of the 1800's. Fun place to visit for history buffs. They also have little shops and a spa, high end dining - that sort of thing. There is a free trolley that runs between the dome and the French Lick Springs Hotel and Casino: "For iconic transportation between the hotels, take a ride on the 1930 rail trolley. Ride the rails a distance of just over one mile on 'the shortest trolley line in the world.' ...The rail trolley operates from 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year." This is a must do for preschool age kids who like Daniel Tiger lol.
Entertainment & Activities
See the description for West Baden Springs Hotel - the trolley travels between the two. They also rent bikes here and have a nice little bike trail between the two hotels. They are next to the Casino and have lots of touristy options: a spa, little overpriced shops, excellent ice cream, golf course, etc.
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French Lick Resort
8670 IN-56See the description for West Baden Springs Hotel - the trolley travels between the two. They also rent bikes here and have a nice little bike trail between the two hotels. They are next to the Casino and have lots of touristy options: a spa, little overpriced shops, excellent ice cream, golf course, etc.
Paoli Peaks
2798 W County Rd 25 SNice little ski resort just outside of town.
Parks & Nature
One the best state parks I've visited. They have caves that you can hike into (just a few yards), as well as a cave boat tour. The Pioneer Village has a working water-powered grist mill where you can buy fresh ground corn meal and see it being ground at the top of every hour. They have historical interpreters in the village and demonstrations of things like weaving and blacksmithing on weekends during the summer. Great hiking trails, etc.
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Spring Mill State Park
3333 IN-60One the best state parks I've visited. They have caves that you can hike into (just a few yards), as well as a cave boat tour. The Pioneer Village has a working water-powered grist mill where you can buy fresh ground corn meal and see it being ground at the top of every hour. They have historical interpreters in the village and demonstrations of things like weaving and blacksmithing on weekends during the summer. Great hiking trails, etc.
My Mom calls this place the "Grand Canyon of Orange County" lol. It is a giant sink hole within an even more giant sink hole. Short hike from the parking area, and a nice drive through Amish country.
Wesley Chapel Gulf
4742 N 350 WMy Mom calls this place the "Grand Canyon of Orange County" lol. It is a giant sink hole within an even more giant sink hole. Short hike from the parking area, and a nice drive through Amish country.
Largest tract of old growth forest in the state (although it's not that huge of a place). One mile hiking trail. The placement on the map is a little confusing. There are two parking spots to access the forest: the closest to us is across the road from the Catholic Church on Hwy 150. The other parking lot is on South 37, you can see the little loop drive on the map. The map shows S Triangle road as crossing hwy 150 - the road on the south side of the hwy has actually been closed off to traffic for decades, but it is still paved and a very easy hike. The old growth forest starts at the point on the map where that road ends - the trail is more challenging from that point uphill.
Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest
Largest tract of old growth forest in the state (although it's not that huge of a place). One mile hiking trail. The placement on the map is a little confusing. There are two parking spots to access the forest: the closest to us is across the road from the Catholic Church on Hwy 150. The other parking lot is on South 37, you can see the little loop drive on the map. The map shows S Triangle road as crossing hwy 150 - the road on the south side of the hwy has actually been closed off to traffic for decades, but it is still paved and a very easy hike. The old growth forest starts at the point on the map where that road ends - the trail is more challenging from that point uphill.
Wildlife cruises/boat tours. http://www.patokalakemarina.com/wildlife-cruises/
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Patoka Lake Marina
10634 South 940 WestWildlife cruises/boat tours. http://www.patokalakemarina.com/wildlife-cruises/
Spring Valley Trailhead
3623 W Co Rd 550 SGood Hike around a small Lake in the Hoosier National Forest
Absolutely beautiful! Showcases the best of the Hoosier National Forest, including a scenic drive to the trail. Short but nicely challenging hike.
Hemlock Cliffs Scenic Trail
Union Chapel RoadAbsolutely beautiful! Showcases the best of the Hoosier National Forest, including a scenic drive to the trail. Short but nicely challenging hike.
Old Mill Canoe Rental - Blue River (OMCR)
5 US-150Canoe rental right on Hwy 150
Canoe rental off the beaten track - scenic drive.
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Cave Country Canoes-Blue River
112 W Main StCanoe rental off the beaten track - scenic drive.
Beautiful and very very off-the-beaten-track. There are practically no signs and you will probably get lost lol. But if you like exploring this is for you. There's a cool land bridge here that I've honestly never seen because we got hopelessly lost. What we did manage to see was beautiful. And we just followed the creek back to the car.
Yellow Birch Ravine
Trestle RoadBeautiful and very very off-the-beaten-track. There are practically no signs and you will probably get lost lol. But if you like exploring this is for you. There's a cool land bridge here that I've honestly never seen because we got hopelessly lost. What we did manage to see was beautiful. And we just followed the creek back to the car.
Arts & Culture
Along with the Black Vulture Project they are developing an art and music venue in an old tomato juice canning factory and a gallery in a historic building on West Main Street. See their facebook pages for events: https://www.facebook.com/blackvultureproject/ and https://www.facebook.com/tomatoproducts/
Tomato Products Company
495 West Thornton StreetAlong with the Black Vulture Project they are developing an art and music venue in an old tomato juice canning factory and a gallery in a historic building on West Main Street. See their facebook pages for events: https://www.facebook.com/blackvultureproject/ and https://www.facebook.com/tomatoproducts/